Baron

Walter Charles Cornelius Fiers

(
1931
2019
)
University of Ghent
;
Ghent, Belgium
Molecular biologist; Educator; Academic research institution administrator
Area
Biological Sciences
Specialty
Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology
Elected
1999
International Honorary Member
Demonstrated the physical, covalently-closed circularity of a viral DNA-genome (Bacteriophage oX-174; 1961). Sequenced the genome of Bacteriophage MS2 (1976) and of the oncogenic virus SV40 (1978). Cloned and expressed human interferon-B (1980) and other cytokines. Later research was on the mechanism of action of Tumor Necrosis Factor and programmed cell death. Developed a universal Influenza A vaccine (1999).
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